There was an increase in the number of councillors in their 40s or 50s in the Privy Council(中樞院, Jungchuwon)in Korea in the 1930s. Many of them had a great influence in moulding public opinion in the local community. The appearance of a new generation which mediated between the colonial regime and the local community meant a generational change in the Korean social elites in colonial Korea. Most of the councillors with wealth and knowledge had been establishing networks in private or public areas by using organizations like enterprises or schools etc. It was necessary to satisfy their political desire for the stability of the colonial regime. So, the Japanese Government-General of Korea had appointed them as councillors in the Privy Council, but without holding any political power. The Privy Council was just an advisory committee to the Government-General of Korea. They advocated the most coveted projects of the local community like the establishment of public schools or the building of roads. The local population participated in fund-raising campaigns and town meetings for the building of public education institutions or public facilities. The relationship among the residents created by these processes produced a new form of public life related to education, which helped to create modern public life in that region. Also they cooperated with Japan’s war of aggression. The case of Choi Joon Jib, who was a leader in Kangwon province and had a connection with the pro-Japanese group in Seoul, which was the capital of colonial Korea, shows this historical situation. The public life created in the local community was surrounded by Japanese militarism.

There was an increase in the number of councillors in their 40s or 50s in the Privy Council(中樞院, Jungchuwon)in Korea in the 1930s. Many of them had a great influence in moulding public opinion in the local community. The appearance of a new generation which mediated between the colonial regime and the local community meant a generational change in the Korean social elites in colonial Korea. Most of the councillors with wealth and knowledge had been establishing networks in private or public areas by using organizations like enterprises or schools etc. It was necessary to satisfy their political desire for the stability of the colonial regime. So, the Japanese Government-General of Korea had appointed them as councillors in the Privy Council, but without holding any political power. The Privy Council was just an advisory committee to the Government-General of Korea. They advocated the most coveted projects of the local community like the establishment of public schools or the building of roads. The local population participated in fund-raising campaigns and town meetings for the building of public education institutions or public facilities. The relationship among the residents created by these processes produced a new form of public life related to education, which helped to create modern public life in that region. Also they cooperated with Japan’s war of aggression. The case of Choi Joon Jib, who was a leader in Kangwon province and had a connection with the pro-Japanese group in Seoul, which was the capital of colonial Korea, shows this historical situation. The public life created in the local community was surrounded by Japanese militarism.

Choi Joon Jip, Privy Council councillors, Kangwon province, colonial regime, public life, Japanese militarism